Every now and then, we all get stuck in a rut. You know the feeling: you sit down at your desk, ready to create something new and exciting, but the ideas just won’t come. Suddenly, that once-blank page in front of you seems like the most daunting task in the world. But don’t worry! We’ve all been there. Creating content isn’t as easy as it may look from the outside. No matter what industry you’re in, there’s only so much you can say about your product or service before you start to feel like you’re repeating yourself. And when that happens, it’s easy to fall into a content creation rut. But don’t despair! There are ways to break out of it. Keep reading to find out how you can get yourself back on track.
Every content creator goes through a dry spell every now and then. It’s normal to feel uninspired or uncertain about what to write or post next. However, it’s important to identify the reason why you’re in a rut so that you can find a way to break out of it. Sometimes, the cause of a content rut is simply a lack of ideas. If this is the case, try brainstorming with a colleague or conducting some research on your topic. Other times, the problem may be that you’re feeling burnt out. If you’ve been working on a project for a long time without taking any breaks, it’s important to step away for a little while and recharge. Once you identify the source of your content creation rut, you can take steps to address it and get back on track.
After you’ve identified why you can’t seem to come up with new ideas, it’s time to take some proactive steps to turn that around. These are four of our best tips to help you start creating great content again.
The first step to breaking out of a content rut is to spend less time consuming content and more time creating it. That means putting down your phone, closing those social media tabs, and silencing the noise around you so that you can focus on creating something new. It might feel counterintuitive at first, but trust us, it works! You might think that more scrolling means more ideas, but it often doesn’t work that way. Instead, you end up even more frustrated that you’re not thinking of the ideas that these other people are.
Instead, set aside some time each day to focus solely on creating new content. Whether it’s writing a blog post, brainstorming social media posts, or even just jotting down some ideas for future projects, giving yourself time to create will help jump-start your brain and get those creative juices flowing again.
If you’re really struggling to come up with new ideas, take a look at some of your older content. Is there anything you can update or repurpose? For example, if you’ve written a blog post that’s starting to feel a little dated, try giving it a fresh coat of paint by adding new images or updating the copy. If you have an old video that performed well, consider creating new visuals to accompany it or filming a sequel. Whatever you do, don’t scrap your old content altogether—it might just be the key to getting unstuck. Dusting off some old content and giving it new life will help take some of the pressure off coming up with brand new ideas all the time.
Brainstorming with other people is a great way to kickstart creative ideas for content. By talking through ideas with someone else, you can quickly generate a range of possibilities that you might not have thought of on your own. And brainstorming doesn’t have to be a formal process – it can be as simple as having a conversation with a colleague over coffee. And sometimes, you don’t even have to brainstorm with a colleague. Talking things over with your friends or family, who work in different industries, could give you that new perspective you are looking for. So if you’re feeling stuck for ideas, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Chances are, someone else will have some great suggestions that will help you get your creative juices flowing.
It’s hard to be creative when your mind is cluttered. If you’re finding it difficult to generate new ideas, try taking some time to clear your mind—and your space. Take a walk, meditate, do some yoga—whatever helps you relax and recharge. Once you’ve cleared your head, take a look around you. Is your workspace inspiration-friendly? If not, now might be a good time to declutter and give yourself some breathing room. A clean space can work wonders for your creativity! Plus, taking a break from stressing about the ideas that you’re not having can allow you to look at things from a new perspective.
Creativity isn’t easy—but luckily, there are ways to jumpstart it when you’re feeling stuck. Next time you’re in a content rut, try spending less time consuming and more time creating, repurposing old content, or clearing your mind (and your space). With any luck, one (or all!) of these methods will help jumpstart your creativity and get the juices flowing again.
But if this is an issue that continues to occur, maybe you simply have too much on your plate. You can free up some of your time by letting 98 Buck Social’s content curators post for you! Our affordable plans allow you to create a consistent presence online with great content, no matter your budget. Check out all of our services today.